PAT SPILLANE HAS urged Leinster GAA chiefs to make next year’s provincial senior football championship a level playing field by forcing Dublin to play their games away from Croke Park.
The draws for the 2016 football and hurling championships were made this evening with Jim Gavin’s All-Ireland winners paired against either Laois or Wicklow in the quarter-final.
Dublin have strolled to provincial glory with consummate ease in recent years having won the Leinster crown five times in a row.
And Spillane, who was speaking on RTÉ after the draw, believes something needs to be done to ensure it isn’t such a stroll in the park for the Dubs.
“It will sadly be the same this year again,” Spillane said. “This is the only province with one Division 1 team in it and that’s Dublin.
“The likes of Connacht have three Division 1 teams and if there’s any plea I make, and I know it’s a decision for the counties, Laois and Wicklow have drawn the short straw and if they’ve any chance at all hopefully the Leinster council might see fit to get Dublin down to Portlaoise or Aughrim.
“Laois or Wicklow playing in Dublin would bring 500 supporters to Croke Park but just think of what it would do for football in Laois or Wicklow, a full house and raise the profile of football in these counties.
“I’m starting the campaign tonight Michael [Lyster]. Let’s get Dublin out of Croke Park.”
Dessie Dolan was also on the panel and he pointed out that it’s unfair on Dublin to say they’re given an advantage by playing at HQ because they would be more than happy to play in another venue.
“There’s no reason why they wouldn’t,” he said. “I’m sure the players would love to go and play down the country.
“At this point, it has to be done and just see how it goes.”
Should Dublin safely negotiate the quarter-final hurdle, they’ll meet either Louth, Carlow or Meath in the last four.
